Ghana defender John Pantsil wants the team to mount a strong challenge for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal against Mali on Saturday.Â
The right-back hopes his teammates can recover from their semi-final defeat to Burkina Faso on Wednesday.
The Black Stars are listless after a 3-2 penalty shootout reverse to the Stallions at the Mbombela Stadium.
Pantsil, who is doubtful for the match following a muscle pull injury he sustained in the semi-final match, wants the team to be competitive. "We are still in the medal zone although we didn't get the ultimate itself but at east
going home with the third-place will be very good for the team and also boost the morale for next month's World Cup qualifier," the Hapoel Tel Aviv player said.
Last year in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Ghana lost 2-0 to Mali in the third-place play-off having beaten them by the same scoreline in during their Group stage match.
Ghana beat Mali 1-0 in their second Group B match also played in Port Elizabeth.